The Seventh Princess Insists on Making Me Live Off Her - Chapter 26.2

Gao Jingxi had to keep reminding herself that a princess should behave with a princess’s restraint and could not simply surrender to her emotions.

“Then, Your Highness, I’ll have them bring water for your bath.”

Halfway out, Lian Liejin turned back and walked over to Gao Jingxi, asking the question somewhat blankly. When she saw Gao Jingxi’s flushed face, alarm rose in her heart. Had the princess caught a chill from the cold wind and fallen ill again?

Lian Liejin moved extremely quickly. Gao Jingxi saw only a flash of white before Lian Liejin’s hand landed on her forehead.

Before even three seconds had passed, Gao Jingxi leaned backward and caught Lian Liejin’s slender, well-defined hand. “W-Why did you come back again?”

“I… thought you might be feeling unwell. Since you’re fine, I’ll go heat the water. There’s a folding screen here, so you can simply…” Lian Liejin felt too embarrassed to finish the sentence.

Gao Jingxi understood what she meant. However, she rarely undressed and bathed in unfamiliar places, so she did not quite know what to do.

Seeming to notice Gao Jingxi’s discomfort, Lian Liejin scratched her head. “Should I stand guard outside the door while you bathe?”

“All right.”

Having received the princess’s approval, Lian Liejin stopped lingering, turned around, and left the room.

The moment she stepped into the courtyard, however, she saw a heroic figure standing alone beneath the moonlight, seemingly admiring the flowers.

The tree was ablaze with red, dotted with strands of silver—the colors of both moonlight and snow.

“This humble subject greets Her Highness Grand Princess Shenwei.”

Gao Feichen lightly spun the jade flute in her hand twice and spoke without turning around. “You must take good care of Xi’er. The imperial court is turbulent and unstable. The First Imperial Prince, Third Imperial Princess, Fifth Imperial Princess, and Ninth Imperial Prince are all strong contenders for the throne. Xi’er’s life is not easy. You are her Princess Consort. If you ever betray her—”

The emerald jade flute, like a frost-coated blade wrapped in dense stellar power, came to rest against Lian Liejin’s neck. Gao Feichen continued, “I will tear your body into ten thousand pieces.”

“This humble subject swears to protect the princess with my life and would never dare betray her.” The freezing wind outside finally cleared Lian Liejin’s head somewhat.

Gao Feichen glanced at Lian Liejin’s dazed expression and immediately failed to maintain her fiercely protective demeanor. One look was enough to tell her that Lian Liejin was still a blockhead. Xi’er had a long road ahead of her when it came to romance.

Still, matters of the heart could not be forced, no matter how much outsiders tried to help. Gao Feichen narrowed her eyes slightly. “In any case, remember what you said today.”

As soon as the words fell, Gao Feichen leaped dozens of zhang away amid golden starlight.

Lian Liejin once again sighed in admiration. Grand Princess Shenwei truly possessed extraordinary strength. Years ago, with a single performance of The Azure Tides of the Spring Sea, she had soundly defeated the Xuanyuan Zither Immortal, who had reached the rank of Star Master before the age of twenty. Furthermore, they had competed in martial music, a field in which the Grand Princess was not particularly skilled.

By the age of twenty, Gao Feichen had already led troops into battle and captured twelve enemy cities in succession. The Shenwei Army under her command remained one of the Lan Geng Kingdom’s elite military forces.

However, Lian Liejin had not expected Gao Feichen and Gao Jingxi to be so close.

The Seventh Princess truly lived up to her reputation. Her backing was formidable. Next time, Lian Liejin should establish a closer relationship with Grand Princess Shenwei and try to secure the right to supply medicine to the Shenwei Army.

Just thinking about it meant another enormous profit. Lian Liejin felt she truly was an ordinary little genius at making money. When it came to living off her wife, who could possibly travel farther than she did?

Living off one’s wife was like fine wine—the longer it aged, the more fragrant it became.

Remembering Gao Jingxi, Lian Liejin hurriedly called for others to help heat the bathwater. She personally went to the pharmacy, selected several medicinal herbs, and added them to the hot water.

After Lian Liejin quickly finished bathing and changed into another black cloak embroidered with gold cranes, she carried the bathing tub back into the room.

A faint medicinal fragrance spread through the room. She placed the tub behind a four-panel green-bamboo screen, then made several trips to fill it with enough hot water.

“Your Highness, the water temperature is just right.”

The fragrance of medicinal herbs gradually calmed Gao Jingxi’s chaotic thoughts. Looking at the steaming tub, she said softly, “I only have the clothes I’m wearing…”

“Would it be all right to wear mine?”

When Gao Jingxi nodded faintly, Lian Liejin hurried off to rummage through her chests and wardrobe. There had not been many clothes left in the cabinet to begin with. After searching for quite some time, she found only one relatively new black brocade robe patterned with cloud geese. “Your Highness, as for the inner garments… will you wear mine as well?”

After accepting the brocade robe from Lian Liejin, Gao Jingxi caught the clean fragrance of soap pods. “Mm. I’ll wear yours.”

“Then I’ll stand guard outside.”

A glass lantern, two teacups, and a teapot had already been placed on the stone table in the courtyard.

Lian Liejin sat down casually and began admiring the moon. So the princess had truly been searching for her all this time.

Thinking carefully, the pill mixed with Immortal Powder was even more likely to have come from the Stellar Medicine Sect.

Logically, Immortal Powder had to be cultivated in large quantities. The appearance of a single pill containing it meant that hundreds more likely existed behind the scenes.

At that thought, Lian Liejin summoned a gray pigeon. She went into the study, wrote several lines, tied the message to the pigeon’s leg, and released it.

Less than the time needed to drink a cup of tea later, Little Radish stormed into the courtyard carrying a lantern and cursing. “Guan Xie, are you sick in the head? It’s only a few steps away, yet you sent a carrier pigeon to summon me. Do you not have legs? Couldn’t you walk over yourself?”

“I’m occupied and can’t leave.” Lian Liejin pointed toward the candlelight inside the room. “There is an honored guest inside.”

“What is it? Are you hiding a beauty in your golden house and asking me to keep quiet?” Little Radish looked as though she understood everything. She sat beside the stone table and poured herself tea. “Anything below ten thousand taels of gold is out of the question. Once we return to Changyong, I’ll tell Sister A-You and have her inform the Seventh Princess.”

“The Seventh Princess is inside my room.”

A cold wind swept past.

Little Radish suddenly cried out, “My heavens! The princess actually treats you like this? What kind of situation is this? You? Of all people, you?”

Little Radish looked suspiciously at Lian Liejin. Had this woman suffered some sort of shock and brought the princess all the way here to prove something?

“Enough, Little Radish. Stop joking around.” Lian Liejin did not have so many crooked thoughts. Her expression became serious as she deliberately lowered her voice and whispered into Little Radish’s ear for some time.

“This is indeed very serious.” Little Radish nodded and promised, “I’ll investigate it secretly.”

The two continued whispering for so long that Little Radish began yawning. After calculating the time, Lian Liejin realized the Seventh Princess had already been bathing for more than half a shichen—

Wouldn’t the water have gone cold?

Worried that Gao Jingxi might become ill from soaking in cold water, Lian Liejin snatched the teacup from Little Radish’s hand. “Go to sleep. If you drink too much tea, you won’t be able to rest.”

“Didn’t you say we needed to make a careful plan?” Little Radish was confused at first. Then she noticed Lian Liejin repeatedly glancing toward the room and immediately understood. “So you’re planning a trip to Mount Wu! Bah! You lustful traitor who forgets her friends the moment she gets a wife!”

Thus, Little Radish arrived cursing and departed still cursing.

Because she was worried Gao Jingxi had bathed in cold water, Lian Liejin called “Your Highness” twice outside the door. When she heard no response, she ignored everything else and charged inside without thinking.

“Your Highness?”

A splash came from behind the folding screen, as though something had fallen into the water.

Remembering that Gao Jingxi was a complete landlubber who could not swim, Lian Liejin’s imagination immediately ran wild. Could the princess have somehow drowned while taking a bath?

She had just rushed up to the screen when Gao Jingxi’s slightly panicked voice came from behind it.

“Liejin, don’t come over.”

“Your Highness, are you all right?”

“I’m fine, but…” Gao Jingxi looked at the clothes that had fallen into the water and said awkwardly in a soft voice, “Liejin, the clothes are wet.”

“Ah?” It took Lian Liejin a moment to understand. “Your Highness, the weather is cold. Don’t let yourself freeze.”

She was about to walk behind the screen, then remembered Gao Jingxi’s current situation. It was probably exactly the same as on their wedding night.

“I’ll find you another set of clothes.”

Unfortunately, only a few garments from Lian Liejin’s childhood remained in the wardrobe, and none were remotely the right size for Gao Jingxi.

“Your Highness, wear the robe I have on for now. I’ll ask them to bring new clothes tomorrow.”

Gao Jingxi softly murmured her agreement, then said shyly, “Place it over the screen. Don’t come closer.”

Lian Liejin hurriedly removed her outer robe and had just hung it over the screen when she suddenly wondered whether the fabric might feel too rough. After all, she knew from personal experience exactly how delicate Gao Jingxi’s skin was.

Sure enough, Gao Jingxi draped the robe around herself, hurried two steps forward, and immediately burrowed beneath the blankets.

Lian Liejin cleaned the room. When she turned around, she discovered Gao Jingxi completely covered from head to toe, with only her face exposed as she stared fixedly at her.

After extinguishing the candles, only a sliver of silver moonlight entered the room. Lian Liejin quietly removed her boots and once again rolled onto the inner side of the bed.

As she stared at the canopy overhead and desperately searched for something to say, she suddenly felt Gao Jingxi’s breath beside her ear.

“Is there only one quilt?”

“Mm. This is the only winter quilt.”

After hearing that answer, Gao Jingxi fell silent. She even began regretting allowing Lian Liejin to sleep beside her. Yet she could not bear to throw her out again.

“Aren’t you cold without the quilt?”

Lian Liejin turned her head and met Gao Jingxi’s gaze. For some reason, the princess seemed much gentler tonight than ever before. She answered honestly, “I’m cold.”

“Come underneath it, then. But—” Gao Jingxi shifted slightly outward and emphasized, “You are not allowed to move around.”

The moment the Seventh Princess lifted the quilt slightly, the familiar subtle fragrance, mingled with medicinal herbs, surged toward Lian Liejin.

She moved into the warm, fragrant quilt at a turtle’s pace and obediently remained completely still.

However, a soft finger secretly crept onto the tip of her little finger.

The Seventh Princess’s voice was gentle, with a faint thread of seduction.

“Don’t move.”

Overwhelmed by the fragrance and the warm, soft beauty beside her, Lian Liejin’s mind drifted far away. Only after quite some time did she realize what Gao Jingxi was doing.

The woman was attempting to repair her star chart again.

“Gao Jingxi, why won’t you listen to me? You’ll be injured.”

“I don’t care. I still want to try!”

Gao Jingxi’s phoenix eyes were filled with stubborn light. Lian Liejin suddenly felt as though she understood the Seventh Princess’s emotions.

The emotional upheavals of that night were both unfamiliar and exhilarating to Gao Jingxi. Rationally, she had continuously suppressed her thoughts and feelings.

Emotionally, however, her restraint seemed to be crumbling apart.

“I’m afraid you’ll disappear. Whether as Guan Xie or Lian Liejin,” Gao Jingxi murmured. “I’ve already reached the rank of Star Master. Let me try.”

Lian Liejin no longer cared about the rule against moving. She turned over and pinned Gao Jingxi’s other hand down, attempting to interrupt the hand seals.

During the struggle, however, she touched somewhere she should not have touched. Gao Jingxi immediately kicked her away—once again striking exactly the same place as the previous two times.

In the darkness, Lian Liejin curled into the very corner of the bed, close to tears. She finally understood why Gao Jingxi had forbidden her from moving—

Her princess found the clothing uncomfortable against her skin and had removed it again.

This time, however, Lian Liejin decided to strike first. She had not done it deliberately in the first place.

“Your Highness, does being a Star Master mean you may kick people whenever you please?”

Having been taken advantage of, Gao Jingxi was left speechless. It was indeed she who had invited Lian Liejin beneath the quilt, and she was the one who had insisted on repairing the woman’s star chart before being…

Yet Gao Jingxi truly had no idea what she could say to repair the atmosphere.

Seeing that she had rendered Gao Jingxi speechless, Lian Liejin could not suppress her smugness.

After thinking it over repeatedly, Gao Jingxi hugged the quilt and moved farther into the bed. She covered Lian Liejin with it and coaxed softly, “Go to sleep. I won’t kick you again, and you are not allowed to… touch me.”

“Mm.” Lian Liejin caught one corner of the quilt. After hesitating for a long time, she finally asked hoarsely and softly, “Your Highness, why exactly did you want to know whether I have a mole on my waist?”

This time, Gao Jingxi neither became embarrassed nor kicked her. She simply turned sideways and covered Lian Liejin’s mouth firmly with her left hand, speaking in the same fierce tone as earlier.

“Sleep! Say another word, and you’ll sleep outside.”

Lian Liejin: “…”

Terrifying.

A long time passed—long enough for Lian Liejin to believe that the person beside her, whose breathing had become steady, had already fallen asleep.

Then Gao Jingxi’s voice, as gentle as moonlight, suddenly sounded.

“I really like your painting.”

It took Lian Liejin a moment to react.

Then she became so pleased with herself that she could not sleep.

After tossing and turning until deep into the night, the two finally fell asleep one after the other.

Winter days were short and nights were long. While the stars and moon still shared the sky, the Stellar Medicine Sect had already become lively.

The commotion had not yet fully spread to Lian Liejin’s small courtyard, but Gao Jingxi was awakened by the fragrance of food.

A slender candle flame flickered inside the room, releasing a faint warm fragrance. Two bowls of plain porridge and several plates of vegetables rested on the wooden table in the center.

Lian Liejin sat there stirring the porridge with a small wooden spoon, releasing sweet-smelling steam.

Seeing Gao Jingxi awaken, she pointed toward a stack of black clothes beside the bed. “Your Highness, green salt and water for rinsing your mouth have already been prepared. After you wash, come and see whether breakfast suits your appetite.”

Gao Jingxi did not feel particularly cold. She pulled the clothes beneath the quilt, washed and dressed, then joined Lian Liejin at the table.

“I forgot to tell you. Imperial Aunt left last night.”

“Is that so?” Gao Jingxi rested her head lazily on one hand and drank a spoonful of porridge. “Aunt likely still has several more years of warfare ahead of her. The fact that you were able to meet could be considered fate.”

Lian Liejin pulled a small white bottle from her robes. Her eyes darted everywhere except toward Gao Jingxi.

“Your Highness, you should apply some medicine.”

“Mm? Where?” Gao Jingxi was considerably calmer than the night before. Her phoenix eyes still carried the mistiness of someone not yet fully awake, making her look especially charming.

Lian Liejin had worried that she had been too rough the previous night and injured Gao Jingxi. What if she had caused a wound that left a scar? Therefore, she had prepared the finest ointment early that morning.

“Um, around… your neck. And the wound on your forehead needs medicine as well.”

In truth, Gao Jingxi had not yet looked into a bronze mirror and did not know what she looked like.

But Lian Liejin could see clearly. She had bitten rather hard the night before, especially where her canine tooth had pressed into the skin. Even now, that area remained faintly red.

At Lian Liejin’s reminder, the Seventh Princess—who had only just finished mentally preparing herself—turned crimson once again and looked flustered.

“Actually, it’s nothing. Ah, are you going to apply it for me? Mm… perhaps I should do it myself.”

The two women exchanged the medicine bottle in a flustered and incoherent manner, after which silence once again filled the room.

Lian Liejin took the bottle back from Gao Jingxi.

“I should apply it for Your Highness. A-You isn’t here, so it will be inconvenient for you to do it yourself.”

“That… is fine.”

After thinking about it, Gao Jingxi decided that having someone apply medicine was an entirely ordinary matter. She should treat it normally.

Thus, the Seventh Princess smoothed the folds of her clothes and sat properly before the table.

Then she slowly closed her eyes.

With ointment spread over her fingertip, Lian Liejin abruptly stood. She gently brushed aside the loose hair over Gao Jingxi’s forehead, hesitated for quite some time, then said, “Your Highness, perhaps you should open your eyes.”

It simply felt too strange.

Gao Jingxi obediently opened them. The distance between them was neither particularly close nor far.

Perhaps because she had only recently awakened, when Lian Liejin looked down at her, Gao Jingxi appeared to have a pair of moist, innocent doe eyes filled with captivating light.

“No, no. Your Highness, perhaps you should close your eyes after all.” Lian Liejin’s hand trembled slightly. In desperation, she invented an obviously clumsy excuse. “I’m afraid the ointment might get into your eyes.”

Seeing Lian Liejin even more nervous than she was, Gao Jingxi suddenly laughed. The fingertip of her left hand traced circles against Lian Liejin’s fingers as she asked sweetly, “Does applying medicine to me make you this nervous?”

The Seventh Princess had actually noticed!

Lian Liejin thought she could not allow Gao Jingxi to look down on her. She deliberately cleared her throat and declared righteously, “I have always treated my patients with the utmost seriousness. This is the medical virtue I possess as an outstanding physician and the dignity of a supreme medicine refiner!”

Gao Jingxi: “…”

She had lost.

Seeing that she had successfully silenced Gao Jingxi, Lian Liejin became even more pleased. Her cool peach-blossom eyes brimmed with a rosy smile.

“My reputation as the Stellar Medicine Sect’s finest medicine refiner was not earned for nothing.”

Cold wind swept past outside the window. Gao Jingxi silently shook her head and once again comforted herself.

After all, Lian Liejin had grown up in the mountains. Although she looked perfectly presentable, she was undoubtedly still a blockheaded goose at heart.

There was no point arguing with her.

Gao Jingxi took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

“Apply the medicine.”

“Oh. So fierce.”

After applying the medicine, Lian Liejin thought for a long time before saying,

“Your Highness, drink your porridge.”

Gao Jingxi, who had already finished half a bowl: “…I have.”

“Ahem. Well, Your Highness, speaking of which, you should return to the Princess’s Residence. It is always dangerous to remain away from home.”

“What about you?” Gao Jingxi put down the small silver spoon and rubbed the white bottle in her hand, her gaze intense. “I want you to return with me.”